Adrian boys basketball drops season opener

Superior size powered Monroe St. Mary Catholic Central to a 57-49 win over the Adrian High School boys basketball team Friday. The game was the season opener for both squads.

Thanks to a dominating interior defense, the Falcons led 45-25 heading into the fourth quarter. The Maples started the quarter on a 9-2 run, eventually outscoring the Falcons 24-12 in the quarter but were only able to cut the deficit under double digits twice.

Maples coach Bart Bartels said the rally is something the Maples can build on.

"I told our kids I was proud of the way they fought. When we came in at halftime, I told them to come out and play hard for the final 16 minutes. I didn't care what the score was," he said. "It's only the first game and it's not how you start, it's where you are in March."

Both teams started slowly, but behind the shooting of Chinedu Nwosu, St. Mary led 13-6 after one quarter. Nwosu scored six points in the quarter, but was in foul trouble for most of the game and finished with nine.

Outscoring the Maples 11-2 to start the second quarter, the Falcons kept up the pressure and went in at the break with a 32-17 lead. Senior guard Kevin Woodson led the way with 10 points, including a pair of 3-pointers. Woodson led all scorers with 24 points. He was the only Falcon in double figures.

Brett Bartels with 11 points and Jurell Parish with 10 led the Maples. Bartels hit a pair of 3-pointers in the second quarter to keep Adrian in the game. However, the interior defense of St. Mary was dominating, as Jeffrey Albright and Bradley Sherman controlled the boards.

"At halftime, we had nine rebounds and they had eight offensive rebounds," coach Bartels said. "We came out and played well in the third quarter and hit some shots, but then they went on a run and suddenly we were down 20."

The margin was the largest of the game for SMCC. Adrian's fourth quarter rally saw the points spread out as seven players scored in the quarter. Brandon Bays led the way, scoring six of his nine points in the quarter. But the Falcons were able to hold on for the win.

"Our next game is at Stockbridge and they return four starters from a district championship team,"coach Bartels said. "It's not going to be easy."

Adrian JV: Adrian pulled out a 46-45 win the the JV game. Julius Jenkins scored nine points to lead the Maples.